Happy Holidays

 

It is hard to believe that this is the last post of 2023!  Like most people, Mrs. Underwood and I find ourselves wondering how another year has passed so quickly. And, like some people, we find ourselves taking time to reflect upon the paths that we traveled on this trip "once around the sun".  There are many things that we are thankful for in 2023, including our families, our friends, and our health. We are hugely thankful for the opportunity to teach your children at Woodstock Elementary School. Each day we learn as much from them as they learn from us, and it is this type of connection with our students that makes first grade such a fulfilling place to spend our days. We appreciate all you do to support your children in their learning and readiness for whatever the day brings, and we honor the trust that you place in us to guide their development as learners and as people.  This post sends our best wishes for a happy, safe, and peaceful new year.

Literacy: Suffix -s and The Little Red Pen

During word study students have been introduced to the concept of base word and suffix. They have learned that when suffix -s is added to a word it sometimes says /z/ like in the word bugs.  First graders have been taught about using a suffix to make a word plural or to use in an action word.  Heart words for this unit include: were, are, who, what, when, where, there, here.

In Literacy students are examining the book, “The Little Red Pen.” First graders are learning to identify characters' feelings using evidence from the illustrations and text.  They continue to learn about habits of character.  This week’s focus question was, “What work does initiative help the characters do?”

WES Spirit Week: Kindness

WES Spirit Week was focused on kindness in our classroom, school, and community. First graders participated in activities, events, and read alouds that helped them "Be A Light" in our world. 

PBIS Classroom Celebration: Thanksgiving Craft

 

It's Time to Gear Up!

After a warm and dry autumn, colder and snowier weather seems to be here to stay.  First graders go outside everyday, so please make sure your child has appropriate gear for chilly mornings and cold playground conditions as well as can manage outerwear independently!  Thank you. 

Math: Math Menu

In the past two weeks, students have been introduced to a new practice called Math Menu. Math Menu is a component of the math block where students have a menu of activities and problems to select from. At the top of the menus  you will see the "have to" selections that must be done each week and then down below there are additional "mathematicians' choice" selections. First graders are still getting used to the routine of managing their menus so we expect that all of the required sections may not be complete at this time. On Menu 1 students were asked to select  one windowpane problem each day and one activity from the choice section. Currently, this has expanded to include problem solver story problems and a writing prompt. Menu items are designed to be independent work that is completed while the teacher meets with a small group of students for targeted work. Please be sure to ask your student to explain the different parts of the menu to you, it is becoming a highly engaging part of our day!

Handwriting

A daily handwriting component has been incorporated into our structured literacy instructional minutes this year. Students are receiving direct instruction on proper and fluent number formation and upper case and lower case letter formation. Focus includes pencil grip, body position, and the 4S's of printing: shape, slant, size, and space.

 

Literacy

 During Word Study First Graders learned about two new sounds (/an/ and /am/) that we call, “glued sounds.”  Glued sound is a term for word families in which one or more sounds are altered a bit.  We teach these as word families because the sounds are not easily segmented.  Heart words that were taught in this unit include: from, have, do, does.  

The big idea we have been exploring during Literacy is: How do habits of character help us do work?  To understand the habits of character (initiative, perseverance and collaboration) students took on various challenges: cup tower challenge and jump rope challenge. Students participated in a close reading of, “The Most Magnificent Thing” and spent time writing reflections on their challenges. 

Zipping, Buttoning, and Tying Shoes

 

One of the goals of first grade is to develop academic and personal independence in six-and seven-year olds. It is especially important that your child is prepared to gear up for colder weather with little assistance from adults.  Please work with your child now on those essential winter fine motor skills: zipping, buttoning, layering, lacing, velcro-ing, and tying. Thank you!

Math Workshop: How Many of Each?

First grade mathematicians continue to work on solving story problems about making combinations of green and red apples or orange and blue balloons to compose a target number. The task became a little more challenging as students took on the work of finding strategies to represent the apples independently. Our math curriculum uses student friendly language to call these problems "How Many of Each?" problems and the Common Core State Standard calls them Put Together/Take Apart problems with both addends unknown. Unlike many addition and subtraction story problems that we've worked on so far this year, nothing is changing in these story problems. Instead, mathematicians must keep the whole (the target number) and two parts (some green apples and some red apples) in mind in order to come up with possible solutions to the problem. This is challenging work! Above, you can see an example of a mathematician working systematically to determine ALL of the solutions for some green and some red apples to make a whole of 7 apples. 

Second Step: Empathy

Our Second Step social emotional program has a new focus this week as new skills for developing empathy are being introduced and practiced in the classroom. Experts say that empathy is a key ingredient in the development of prosocial behaviors and interpersonal problem-solving skills. Being able to identify understand and respond in a caring way to how someone is feeling provides the foundation for helpful and socially responsible behaviors, friendships, cooperation, coping, and conflict resolution, all of which help students succeed in school. Currently, first graders are learning to identify physical (face and body language) and situational (challenging work or play experiences) that help us understand others' feelings at a given time.  Specific attention will be given to feelings such as happy, sad, disgusted, surprised, curious, and frustrated.

Halloween Parade!

 

Billings Farm and Museum: Tools Make Work Easier!

First graders enjoyed a beautiful fall afternoon at the Billings Farm and Museum last Friday extending their classroom language arts learning. They have been reading, writing, and talking about tools and how they make work easier. Thank you Woodstock Elementary School PTO for funding this learning extension!